Dangerous Conceit (Sample)

Chapter 2

At two in the morning, Lexi stumbled inside the house where she lived. She locked the door and tossed the keys on a cardboard box that acted as an entryway table by the door. The room contained a single aged sofa, a couple of plastic end tables and bolted windows that were smothered with curtains to keep away curious passersby. One picture hung on the plain white walls of the room, a large framed portrait of a woman with dark brown hair and a single inscription underneath: Ava: Rest In Peace.

Lexi entered the kitchen that had a bar, five weathered stools and appliances that went out of fashion twenty years ago. The paint started to chip with the small leak in the ceiling; the bucket underneath had filled an inch from the top. Along the wall was another small hole, indication pest control had not serviced the house in a while.

"We're in hell." She glanced at her friend Abby who sat across from where she stood. "How was your day?" Lexi grabbed the open bottle of whiskey from the bar and took Abby's empty shot glass. "That good, huh?"

"I've been searching for Maura's father all day," Abby said, twisting her long blond ponytail and closing her laptop.

"And—" Lexi waited for Abby to say more as she downed the shot of whiskey she poured.

"It seems that everything about the man stops in Miami. He has to be here."

Lexi shook her head, slapping the wooden bar and making the whiskey bottle rock. "Our work will be too dangerous for Maura if we don't find him soon. Somebody has to keep her safe."

"Don't worry, Lex. I still have a few tricks I haven't tried. If anyone can get the info, it's me." Abby smiled, touching her arm with assurance.

Lexi nodded as two more women came floundering through the front door. They were all in their twenties and shared a small three-bedroom house with Maura, a four-year-old little girl.

"It's so nice to be home." A woman with long raven hair flopped on the sofa and kicked up her feet, letting her shoes hit the floor one by one. "You have no idea what it's like to work at a dingy gentlemen's club. I feel sorry for the dancers. At least, I'm a waitress." She closed her eyes when the fourth woman with bright red hair whacked her with her purse.

"Fuck off, Piper. We both know you couldn't be a dancer if you tried with that flat chest you call boobs."

Piper cupped both breasts together and glared with contempt. "My boobs serve their purpose plenty, Kayla." Piper threw a chunk of money on the table and crossed her arms with triumph. "I don't even have to touch one of those bastards to make out big. I can't help it if they think of you as delicious fruit."

Kayla sat next to Lexi but leered at Piper who went back to shutting her eyes. "How was your day at the Sandy Shores? I'd say you have it better than both of us." She pointed at herself and Piper.

"Good to see you too, Kayla." Lexi glanced away and poured a second shot. She would need it to unwind with her friends around.

"Well, you get to at least cover up. Not like me who strips to entertain a bunch of rich drunks."

"Hell-o," Lexi scoffed. "Who took your place at that last assignment? Besides, it's not like you don't like showing off."

"That's not all true." Kayla smiled and stood, her head a foot shorter than the ceiling as she reached for the whiskey. "But I do enjoy screwing with their heads. Now that," she turned the whiskey bottom-up and gulped, not bothering with the shot glass next to Lexi, "is entertainment."

Lexi smiled but looked down to keep from encouraging Kayla. "I have more important issues to worry about than fighting over who has the worst job this time," Lexi said. "I'm going on a date. I also know the guy can get me closer to Angelo."